Recap: Iowa 27, Boston College 20

BRONX, N.Y. - Junior tight end Tommy Sweeney had a career-high seven receptions for 137 yards and true freshman running back AJ Dillon rushed for 157 yards for his seventh 100-yard game but Boston College (7-6) fell to the University of Iowa (8-5), 27-20, in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday evening. Both Sweeney and Dillon scored the Eagles' touchdowns.

BC totaled 281 yards of total offense in the first half, which was the most recorded in a first half by an Iowa opponent. Dillon tied for sixth in BC single-season history with 14 rushing touchdowns.

After the Hawkeyes took an early 3-0 lead, Dillon scored on a four-yard touchdown run in the first quarter to go up 7-3. Both teams battled back and forth for the remainder of the game. Graduate quarterback Darius Wade connected with Sweeney on a 39-yard TD pass and junior Colton Lichtenberg hit a 30-yard field goal to give BC a seven-point lead going into halftime.

Iowa tied the game at 17 midway through the third quarter and the two teams traded field goals in the fourth to knot it at 20 with just over eight minutes to play. The Hawkeyes scored on a one-yard run with three minutes left in the game after Wade was sacked and fumbled at midfield. Iowa put together two big plays of 27 yards and 17 yards.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Iowa 27, Boston College 20
Records: Boston College (7-6, 4-4 ACC), University of Iowa (8-5, 4-5 BIG TEN)
Location: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y.
Attendance: 37,667
Time of Game: 3:09

BC HIGHLIGHTS

Dillon finished the season with 14 touchdowns. He recorded 157 yards on the ground on 32 carries for his seventh 100-yard game. He is tied for sixth in BC record books for touchdowns in a season.
Sweeney had a career-high seven receptions for 137 yards and recorded a career-long 48-yard reception. His receiving total marked the most by a BC receiver all season and he led the Eagles with four receiving TDs.
Wade threw his third touchdown of season. He recorded over 200 passing yards (208) for the third straight game.
Sophomore linebacker Davon Jones tied for the team lead with a career-high eight tackles. He recorded his second tackle for a loss in as many games.

KEY MOMENT

With the score tied at 20 with 3:09 to play in the game, Iowa took the lead on a one-yard touchdown run by Drake Kulick. The Eagles were unable to score a touchdown in the second half as the Hawkeyes secured the victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

On the Eagles' opening drive, Wade's pass was intercepted by Jake Gervase, who returned the ball 29 yards to the six-yard line. The BC defense held Iowa to a 24-yard field goal to give the Hawkeyes an early, 3-0 lead with 12:59 left to play in the first quarter.
With the ball on the Iowa 33-yard line, Wade converted on fourth-and-eighth with a 12-yard pass to Sweeney. He hit redshirt freshman Kobay White with a 12-yard completion to put the Eagles at the Hawkeyes' five-yard line. Two plays later, Dillon rushed into the end zone from the four-yard line to make it a 7-3 game with five seconds left to play in the quarter.
On the ensuing play, Akrum Wadley returned the kickoff 72 yards to the BC 16-yard line. With 13:18 to play in the second quarter, Nate Stanley connected with Noah Fant on an eight-yard touchdown pass to complete a four-play, 16-yard scoring drive.
After a series of rushes by Dillon and senior wide receiver Thadd Smith, Wade completed a four-yard pass to senior wide receiver Charlie Callinan to give the Eagles the ball at the Iowa 43-yard line. After a four-yard rush by Dillon, Wade completed a 39-yard touchdown pass to Sweeney with 9:35 left in the half to give the Eagles a 14-10 lead.
With the ball on the BC 13-yard line, Dillon rushed for 66 yards to the Iowa 21-yard line. After a series of rushes by junior running back Jon Hilliman, the Eagles had the ball at the Iowa 12. Lichtenberg converted a 30-yard field goal with 1:29 left in the half, giving BC the 17-10 lead.
In the third quarter, Stanley completed a 32-yard pass to Nick Easley to give the Hawkeyes the ball at the BC 13-yard line. Wadley completed the seven-play, 58-yard scoring drive when he rushed for a five-yard touchdown with 7:11 left in the quarter, tying the score at 17.
Miguel Recinos converted a 38-yard field goal with 11:32 left in the game to complete a 10-play, 55-yard scoring drive for the Hawkeyes and give Iowa a 20-17 advantage.
On the following Eagles possession, Wade completed a 48-yard pass to Sweeney to give BC the ball at the Iowa seven-yard line. Lichtenberg hit a 24-yard field goal with 8:09 left to retie the score.
The Hawkeyes took a 27-20 lead on a one-yard touchdown run by Drake Kulick with 3:09 left to play in the game.

Team Stats

Hamp Cheevers

Players Mentioned

Charlie Callinan

AJ Dillon

Jon Hilliman

Davon Jones

Colton Lichtenberg

Thadd Smith

Tommy Sweeney

Darius Wade

Kobay White